Collier students see declined FCAT scores

More students are in danger of repeating the third grade as reading scores dip at most county schools

More than half of Collier County's elementary schools saw decreases in the number of third-graders passing the FCAT reading exam, according to scores released Wednesday.

And the number of third-graders passing the math portion of the exam decreased in half of the district's 26 elementary schools.

The disappointing scores could lead to 646 third-graders being held back for reading — 109 more than last year.

District officials rejoiced last year when Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test results spiked in both the reading and math categories, chalking up their success to analyzing test data and the increased availability of reading programs.

Wednesday's results, showing a dip from 75 percent of third-graders reading at or above grade-level last year to 66 percent this year, left district officials dumbfounded.

Statewide, 69 percent of Florida's third-graders scored at or above grade level in reading this year, down from 75 percent last year.

"We know we have more work to do," said Cynthia Janssen, chief academic officer for the Collier School District.

While most schools saw the number of passing third-graders drop, five schools made gains with fewer students scoring failing grades of Level 1. They were Everglades City School, and Highlands, Lake Trafford, Naples Park and Shadowlawn elementary schools.

The percentage of students scoring at Level 1 remained the same at Sea Gate and Village Oaks elementary schools.

Two Immokalee schools, which have traditionally struggled with the FCATs, made notable gains this year. At Highlands Elementary, 18 percent of third-graders scored a Level 1, down from 24 percent last year. Lake Trafford Elementary third-graders improved from 37 percent scoring at Level 1 last year to 33 percent this year.

Linda Salazar served as principal of Highlands Elementary this year, and will assume the same role at Immokalee High School in 2007-08. She plans to carry over her success at Highlands to the neighboring high school.

"I'm really excited about this, because I look at Immokalee High's scores, and they are what Highlands' were five years ago," Salazar said. "We're dealing with the same population."

Another Immokalee school, Pinecrest Elementary, wasn't as fortunate. Forty-one percent of students scored at Level 1 this year, compared to 27 percent last year.

Pinecrest Principal Pamela James was unavailable for comment Wednesday.

Janssen cited three elementary schools as improving their scores — Lely, Highlands and Village Oaks. All three schools improved their mean scale scores in reading and math this year.

The number of Lely Elementary students scoring a Level 1 in reading and math increased.

"Many of the students at these schools come from non-English speaking families," Janssen said. We "are forced to look at individual students and develop ways to ensure they succeed.

"They have. We have to make sure all of our schools are working smarter and looking at individual students."

Janssen said the district plans to provide training on data analysis, and will encourage teachers to work in teams to improve their scores.

"It's upsetting because we are seeing an increase in their DIBELS scores countywide," said Janssen, referring to The Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills, a means for measuring literacy development among first-, second- and third-graders.

"We have to focus on one student at a time."

Janssen said third-graders and high-school seniors who scored a Level 1 on the FCAT will not necessarily be held back. Third-grade students will be promoted if they scored well enough on the Norm Reference Test portion of the FCAT.

Janssen said there are also exemptions for exceptional education students, and those who are English Speakers of Other Languages.

Of the 500 students who received a Level 1 on the FCAT in reading last year, Janssen said about 193 students were retained.

High-school seniors who do not pass the FCAT can graduate if their SAT or ACT scores are high enough, she said.

Both third- and 12th-grade students will have the opportunity to take summer school to avoid retention.

A total of 450 Collier County seniors took the FCAT reading exam. Of those, 81, or 18 percent, passed. That is higher than the 13 percent who passed last year and the state average of 15 percent passing this year.

Of the 135 seniors who took the FCAT math exam, 29 percent, or 39 students, passed.

That number is higher than the state average of 26 percent passing and the 27 percent of Collier seniors who had to retake the exam and passed last year.

Education Commissioner Jeanine Blomberg said the state has been unable to pinpoint why reading scores decreased statewide. She said the state is analyzing scores, and officials want to talk to the six districts that saw an increase in reading scores.

"We have to look at things like, ‘Did we have more stability in our population last year?'" Blomberg said. "We need to look at how students in schools with reading coaches scored.

"There are a variety of factors."

Blomberg said the state was firm in its commitment to provide support to local schools. She cited programs like summer reading camps and providing reading coaches to schools as evidence of that commitment.

"We are pleased to see continued growth since 2001," she said. "We are looking at our long-term successes and staying focused on the future."

Parents will be able to access their student's reading and math scores Friday, at www.fcatparentnetwork.com. Parents must use the login and password provided by their child's school.